Coast’s Shrimp Signs now have their own app

BY MARY PEREZ

meperez@sunherald.com

A new My Gulf Coast app launched Thursday helps locals and tourists in South Mississippi have more fun.

The way-finding app is tied to the round, blue, numbered Shrimp Signs posted on traffic-light poles along U.S. 90. It can be used in several ways:

▪  By pinpointing the user’s location, the interactive map shows what attractions and restaurants are nearby.

▪  The app also shows attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums and other points of interest across the Coast.

▪  Users can build an itinerary by selecting the places they want to visit.

▪  To find listings, users can search by Shrimp Signs, whose numbers correlate to nearby attractions, or interstate signs.

▪  The menu provides specific categories such as “Things to Do” and “Where to Eat.”

▪  The app offers deals and promotions at local businesses.

▪  Scavenger hunts reward users with prizes.

To work properly, the phone’s location-services function must turned on, and to use the Itinerary Builder and Scavenger Hunts functions, users must create an account, which requires an email address and password.

“My Gulf Coast is the perfect tool to find your next favorite restaurant, to discover a new attraction and to plan itineraries for your next trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Renee Areng, executive director of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.

The free app was launched as part of the Coast celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week and works on iPhones and Androids. The app can be downloaded to a phone or tablet by searching “My Gulf Coast” in the Apple Store or Google Play, and clicking the install button.

Mary Perez: 228-896-2354@MaryPerezSH